The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Chicago Bears in an important NFC North division battle on Monday night.
The game became even more important, as the Green Bay Packers gifted the Vikings a Detroit Lions loss by beating them 29-22 on Thanksgiving Day. It’s even more important after the Vikings lost to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. The Vikings currently sit two games down from the Lions and can climb within 1.5 games with a win on Monday night.
As we approach the game on Monday night, there are multiple ways we will preview the game. Our staff gave their predictions for Monday night’s game.
Managing editor Tyler Forness
Record: 7-4
This is likely to be closer than some might think. The Vikings are currently three-point favorites per Bet MGM and that number is likely without Jefferson, who is worth 1.67 points on the spread. The Vikings haven’t seemed to miss him much going 5-1 in that stretch and they will likely be without him again. After the Lions lost on Thanksgiving Day, the Vikings have a chance to get within 1.5 games of the NFC North lead and they will find a way to do so.
Vikings 27, Bears 16
Columnist Judd Zulgad
Record: 5-6
The Vikings should have won Sunday in Denver but their three turnovers were enough to keep the Broncos in the game and enabled them to come away with a late victory. Adversity is nothing new for these Vikings and while the Bears (3-8) gave the Lions a scare on Sunday, they remain in the basement of the NFC North. The Vikings will win this prime-time matchup before enjoying a week off for the bye.
Vikings 28, Bears 21
Columnist Saivion Mixson
Record: 6-5
The Passtronaut hype may be dwindled a bit after Dobbs’ shaky performance last week, but the Vikings still firmly hold their postseason fate in their hands. While the loss last week does sting, it also may mean that Jefferson will be giving it a go against the Bears to give Minnesota a boost just before the bye.
In his first action back since getting hurt against Minnesota, Fields posted the fifth-best success rate of any quarterback last week. The Bears dueled with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, but ultimately fell after Detroit scored 14 points in the final three minutes to steal the victory.
With Jefferson back in the fold, this offense opens up exponentially. More potential one-on-one matchups for guys like T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn. And I think that makes all the difference.
Minnesota pulls out a close home divisional battle and cruise into the bye week.
Vikings 27, Bears 24
Columnist Chris Spooner
Record: 5-2
The Bears didn’t need any more added motivation for this game. The Bears/Vikings is a storied rivalry and these teams get up to play each other each time the game rolls around. However, while they didn’t need it, they certainly got it with their heartbreaking loss last week at the hands of Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions. Up double-digits with four minutes remaining, the Bears found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and will be motivated to not let the same thing happen against another division foe.
On the flip side, the Vikings suffered their own heartbreaking loss last week and will be looking to bounce back in a big way. Coming off a five-game win streak, the Vikings collapsed at the end of last Sunday night’s matchup against the Broncos. They’ll be trying to avoid their own repeat performance and stay within the NFC’s tight playoff picture. We’ll learn a lot about the Vikings and their resolve in this one. I don’t see them dropping two in a row.
Vikings 27, Bears 13
Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri
It’s been six weeks since the Vikings last defeated the Bears. While nothing has really changed for Chicago, who are still trending toward two top-seven draft picks, Minnesota has gone from 1-4 to playoff contenders. The Vikings defensive front dominated the Bears earlier this season, and that’ll be key in this matchup. While I expect this to be a close game, Matt Eberflus is 0-9 against the NFC North, and I don’t expect him to get a divisional win at any point the rest of the way.
Vikings 27, Bears 20
